Dealing in fine Japanese prints, paintings and books since 1968
Dealing in fine Japanese prints, paintings and books since 1968
Click here to view image full size. One volume complete Kaido kyoka awase, “Comparison of Kyoka Poems on the Highway.” Three pages preface signed Bumpo and thirty-six double-page illustrations alternating by Nangaku and Bumpo; last page colophon dated Bunka 8…
Click here to view image full size. One of Toyokuni’s most famous books: 2 volumes bound as one, Yakusha Awase Kagami, “A Mirror of Actors’ Physiognomy.” Published Kyowa 4 (1804) by Bunshundo and Yamadaya Sanshiro. Vol. I, 4pp. preface, undated,…
Click here to view image full size. One volume Shuzo suiko meimei den, Shohen, “ Portraits of the Characters in the Suikoden, First Series.” Original embossed orange covers with yellow title slip. Inside front cover title and signature within a…
Click here to view image full size. Five volumes complete: [Shibai] Shin nigao-e. Published in Tokyo Taisho 4 (1915) and illustrated by Natori Shunsen, Yamamura Koka, Torii Kotondo, Ishida Hakutei and others. Volume one: 18.5 x 12.5 cm. Original…
Click here to view image full size. 5 vols. complete: Zoku Koya Bunko, “The Sequel to Koya Library.” Vol. 1: 52 sheets; 48 illus. Vol. 2: 49 sheets; 48 illus. Vol. 3: 53 sheets; 51 illus. Vol. 4: 53 sheets;…
Click here to view image full size. A chuban print showing a group of beauties caught in a downpour on the banks of a river. The centre figure has an umbrella with the publisher’s name Izumi [ya Ichibei] and address…
Click here to view image full size. Two volumes complete: Toto shokei ichiran, “Fine Views of the Eastern [Edo] Capital at a Glance.” Shows famous places in Edo with accompanying kyoka poems at the top. Volume 1: 10 sheets, 1…
Click here to view image full size. One volume complete Sakura-saku shima : Haru no kawatare. Title page: Within purple borders, the subtitle and Yumeji-saku in reddish brown. Frontispiece: colour woodcut across two pages entitled TUMABIKI, “Finger-plucking” in roman letters,…
Click here to view image full size. One volume complete, Ehon tebikigusa, “A Model Book of Plants.” Published by Iseya Rihei, 1849. Signed on inside of front cover Ichiryusai Hiroshige hitsu with three page preface signed Ryukatei Tanekazu (1807-1858) plus…
Click here to view image full size. One volume complete Choju ryakugashiki, “Simplified Forms of Drawing Birds and Flowers.” Published Kwansei 9, 1797, by Suharaya Ichibei. Illustrated by Kuwagata Keisai ( Masayoshi ). These influential books of Masayoshi’s were popular…
Click here to view image full size. One volume complete Kyoka sumidagawa meisho zue, ” Humorous Poems on Famous Views of the Sumida River.” Colophon dated Bunsei 6, 1823, published by Shunsuien. Extremely rare. Original covers with a printed design…
Click here to view image full size. One of a set: Edo Murasaki meisho Genji, “Murasaki’s Genji in Famous Places of Edo.” Mitate Ukifune Sumidagawa no watashi, “A Parody of Ukifune Crossing the Sumida River.” Shows a beauty on a…
Click here to view image full size. One volume complete Ehon Suikoden, “A Picture Book of the Suikoden”, published by Kadomaruya Jinsuke, Bunsei 12, 1829 showing 108 Chinese brigands. Some fine designs. Signed Katsushika Zen Hokusai I-itsu fude. Fine impressions.…
Click here to view image full size. Autumn from a set of four triptychs, Edo meisho shiki-no nagame, “Famous Places in Edo in the Four Seasons.” An evening scene with beauties on a balcony overlooking the bay at Takanawa. Birds…
Click here to view image full size. A copy of Ryakuga Korin-fu Ryusai hyakuza, the One Hundred Abbreviated Drawings by Ryusai [Hiroshige]. 1 vol. complete: 21 sheets; inside front cover title and illustrator Hiroshige (also given on last page). 3pp.…
Click here to view image full size. Nanke yushi Shijo-nawate nite uchijini. The last stand of the Kusunoki clan at Shijo-nawate in 1348. Kusunoki Masatsura, shown on the far left propped against his fallen horse under a rain of arrows,…
Click here to view image full size. An original painting showing what is probably the most famous encounter in Japanese mythology: The scene is evening on Gojo Bridge in Kyoto where the twenty year old Benkei ambushes samurai to steal…
Click here to view image full size. A poem by Fujiwara no Yoshitaka (954-974) from Hyakunin isshu uba ga etoki, the “Hundred Poems Explained by the Wet Nurse.” Published by Eijudo and Iseri, c 1835-6. Although obviously intended to be…
Click here to view image full size. The stern of a large sailing-junk and a smaller vessel infront. A poem by Sangi Takamura (Ono no Takamura) from Hyaku-nin isshu, “The Hundred Poets” published by Ebine c 1838. Depending which story…
Click here to view image full size. Itahana from Kisokaido rokujukyutsugi no uchi, “Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaido.” The set of seventy prints was started by Eisen and published by Hoeido in 1835, but in 1837 Hiroshige took over and…
In the new offerings is a vertical Yoshitoshi diptych of Cho Jun and Ri Ki wrestling underwater. This is the earliest known state of what is considered one of Yoshitoshi’s best designs – before the first publisher’s name (Matsui Eikichi)…
This is the first of an occasional blog that I hope clients will find interesting. In the current update is an important and rare set of six original wood blocks for a shunga (erotic) book Aya no odamaki “A Twist…
Click here to view image full size. An interesting large painting, full colour on paper mounted on a wooden frame, 25.5 in; 62cms in diameter showing a bust portrait of a beauty with elaborate coiffure and a white mouse. Although…
Click here to view image full size. A fisherman with a scoop and net seemingly trying to catch the moon’s reflection. One of an excessively rare chuban series with title Toshi gafu no uchi, “Drawing Album for Chinese Poems” printed…
Click here to view image full size. Daimotsu-no-ura o-kassen. A triptych showing the battle of Dan-no-ura. The clash between the Minamoto (Genji) clans and the Heike (Taira) clans happened in 24/3/1185 when the Taira were defeated by Yoshitsune. He is…
Click here to view image full size. A painting in full colour on silk, 33.75 x 14.4 in; 85.6 x 36.6 cms. Shows a beauty after a bath looking down at her mirror. Yoshihide was a pupil of Kuniyoshi. In…
Click here to view image full size. A European couple in flagrante from a set Yanagi no arashi, “Storm of Willows” published c 1832. This highly unusual shunga print with chiaroscuro modelling is obviously based on imported woodcuts and engravings…
Click here to view image full size. An interesting large painting, full colour on paper mounted on a wooden frame, 25.5 in; 62cms in diameter showing a bust portrait of a beauty with elaborate coiffure hanging paper acrobats. Although not…
Click here to view image full size. A triptych showing the ghosts of the Taira (Heike) warriors attempting to sink Yoshitsune’s ship off the coast of Settsu on his way to Shikoku. This is one of Kuniyoshi’s great designs –…
Click here to view image full size. Click here to view image full size. An original two-sided sumi block for printing pages 21, 22, 23, and 24 for the shunga book Aya no odamaki, “A Twist of Figured Cloth.” (See…